Means for equalizing pressures.



H. L. DOHERTY.

MEANS FOR EQUALIZING PRESSUBES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1911.

1,034,348. Patented July 30, 1912.

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. UNITED STATES amnesty,

PATENT OFFICE.

on NEW YORK, n. 'Y.

MEANS FOR EQUALIZING PRESS U-RES i specificationof Lettersratent. Patented u1y'30, 19 1 2.

Oiiginai application filed March 3," i1'91 ofS er ialnoi547,143. h men-a this application filed March 2,

v i 1911. ,s naina. einsoo'.

To all whom it may concern citizen of the United States, and a-resident of New York city, in the county of New York andState of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Equalizing Pressures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a means for equalizing pressures, and particularly to a means for equalizing the pressures in a re-, tort or oven for carbonizing coal and the combustion chamber of the furnace heating such retort or oven.

The object of my invention is the prevention both of leakage of gas from the retort or oven into the combustion chamber due to an excess of pressure in the said retort or oven as compared with the pressure prevailing in the combustion chamber, and of the infiltration of combustion gases from the. combustion chamber into the retort or oven due to a relatively lower pressure in the same; The former condition is the one usually prevailing in practice although the latter condition might obtain due to abnor-.

mal conditions of working'.

This application is a division of my .co-= pending application Ser. No. 33 47,143, filed Mar. 3rd, 1910. i

i Briefly, my invention comprises an individual seal box for each carbonizing chamber, the seal being, in effect, a gas holder inclosing the extremities of two pipes, one connecting the seal box, with the carbonizing i chamber and the other connecting the seal .area of the passage between the lower;-

box with the hydraulic main. The lift: of the seal box carries a partition mid-; way between the two gas connections of less depth than the walls of the lift so that,; according to the position of the lift, the

edge of the partition and the surface of the seal in 4 through which the two con-@ nections communicate may be varied or? communication entirely out off. The lift is suspended from one end of a lever arm fulcrumed at its middle and having an adjustable Weight on'its other end. A variablethe upper part of the lift, the flow of water weight water-counterpoise is arranged in to the counterpoise being regulated by a pressurebal-ance', one arm of which is connected to the carbonizing chamber and the otherend to the combustion chamber of the Be it known that I, HENRY L. Donsn'r a y furnace.

features. which are fully set forth below.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the apparatus of my-invention as applied to the equalizing of the pressures in a carbonizing chamber and the combustion chamber of the furnace heating the same.

It is to be understood that this application,

which I herein claim specifically, is only one of many applications of my method and ap-' My invention comprises also various other paratus. It maybe applied generally to the equalizing of pressures in two gas conduits or between a gas conduit (in which-a stream of gas is flowing) and a chamber containing a body of gas at rest. The apparatus of my invention may be applied without alteration in either case.

Figure 1 shows a vertical longitudinal sec-- the gas to the hydraulic-seal device. This sealing device comprises a seal box, 4, in which terminate the upper extremities of the ascension pipe 3 and the connection 5 to the hydraulic main 6, and a lift, 7, the sides of which are immersed in the liquor seal 8 contained in the seal box 4, this forming a sealed chamber, 9, through which the two pipes 3 and 5 communicate in the raised position of 7. The lift 7 i provided with a false top, 10, which forms a water receptacle, 11. In the top of 7 is an aperture, 12.

The end wall 13 of 11 forms two passages, 14 and 15, which communicate, respectively, with the water receptacle 11 and the interior of the seal box 4, attached to the false top .10 and located between the ends of the pipes 3 and 5 is a vertical transverse partition 16. This is of such a depth that when the lift 7 is in its lowest position it will be immersed in the liquor seal 8 to a suflicient extent to shut off the flow of gas from 3 to 5. The side walls of 7 have a sufiicient depth to remain immersed in the seal 8 when the lift 7 is in its highest position; An apronfg17, of light sheet metal is attached to the top of 7 and forms a loose cap. which prevents the emmm of dust into-the interior of 4:. A

extremity of 20 is provided with an adjust able weight, 21, which is so set that it slightly overbalances 7 when the water pa'n 11 is empty.

20 is fulcrumed in the bearings 22, supported by the standard 23 attached to the fixed box 4. An adjustable equilibrium weight, 24, is attached to 20 at its center of support by the rigid arm 25. The point of support of the beam 20 should be at such a height above the level of the liquor seal 8 that the beam'20 will occupy a horizontal position when the lift 7 is in its average normal position. It will be seen that the turning moment of the weight 24 is nil in the average position of? but increases with the variation of the latter from its mid position. The relation in Weight and length of lever arm of 24 and 21 is such that the turning moment of 24 relative to the 'point of support 22 of 20 will exceed that of 21, as'soon as the lift 7 rises above its highest permissible position. The range of travel of 7 is thus limited to a height which will not cause the unsealing of the ascension pifpe and hy-- draulic main connection, even i the water pan 11 should, for any reason, be empty. A discharge passage, 26, is provided forv 11, the

flow of water from 11 to 26-being regulated by the valve 27. It will be seen that the position of 7 is regulated by the balance between the gas pressure in 9 and the quantity of water in the pan 11. ,The opening of valve 27 after once set is maintained c011- stant. The quantityof water in 11 at any given time thus depends upon the supply of water to 11 relative to the discharge.

A. constant flow of water is maintained through the flexible hose 28 connected to the water supply pipe 29. The water flows from the hose 28 eitherthrough the passage 14 to the pan 11, or through the passage 15 to the liquor in the seal 8, depending upon the position of the end of hose 28. This is determined and varied automatically according to the difference in pressure between the combustion chamber and the retort by means of the pressure balance 30. This, in the construction shown, comprises two small gas holders, 31 and 32, Whose lifts 31 and 32,

respectively, are attached to the extremities of the balance beam 33- which is fulcrumed in the bearings 34 supported by the standard 35. The tanks, 31 and 32, respectively, of the gas holders contain. a sealing liquid preferably oil in order to avoid evaporation. pipe, 42, connects the interior of the lift 31 with the mouthpiece of the retort 2, and a pipe, 43, connects the interior of lift 32 with the combustion chamber 1 in the vicinity of retort 2. Attached rigidly to the mid-' dle of beam 33 of the pressure balance 30 is the arm 36. At the lower extremity of 36 is attached one extremity of the rod 37 whose other extremity is attached to the flexible hose 28. It is seen that any oscillation of 36 will cause an oscillation of the end of the hose 28 'in the same plane. The length of of the hose will be held directly over the partition 13 when the arm 36 is vertical, which will be the case when the pressures in 1 and 2 are the same.

In order to permit the cutting off of the communication between the retort and hydraulic main at the time of drawing and charging the retort, a bell crank, 38, whose lower arm bears a projecting horizontal pin, 39, is mounted in bearings 40, supported by a suitable standard, in such position that on hauling down the cord 41 attached to the upper arm of 38 the pin. 39 will bear against the hose 28, shifting it over the passage 14 independently of the action of the pressure balance 30.

The method of operating my invention is as follows :On first starting, the apparatus is so adjusted that under normal operating conditions during the average make of gas the lift 7 occupies such a position that the ascension pipe 3, through the chamber 9 under the vertical partition 16, down through the connection 5 into the hydraulic main 6, from which it is drawn off by an exhauster (not shown). After a retort has been freshly charged, the make of gas is very rapid, and in consequence of this, the pressure in the retort tends to build up to a point above the average pressure therein. This pressure is transmitted through the pipe 42 to the gas holder 31, causing the lift of 31 to rise, thus swinging the arm 36 to the left and communicating a left-hand movement to the rod 37, thus pushing the lower extremity of hose 28 to the left so that the discharge therefrom passes through the passage 15 into'the liquor-seal 8 in the seal-box 4. The connection 5 from 9 to 6 also serves as a liquor overflow from 4, the excess of water and condensed liquor and tar from the gas passing down through 5 to the h draulic main. Since the waterdischarge valve 27 is always open, when the supply of water to 11 has been cutofl', the pan 11 is quickly emptied to an extent that permits the counterpoise 21 to overbalance the lift 7 which consequently rises, thus increasing the opening between the partition 16 and the level of the seal 8 in 4. The area of the gas passage between the two compartments of 9 is thus increased to correspond with the increased make of gas which again passes unthrottled from 3 to 5, thus-restoring the pressure in the retort to normal. The lifts 31 and 32' of the gas holders 31 and 32 return to their normal position.

it will be seen from the construction that the lift 7 and the regulating apparatus will never come to a position of complete rest.

in the retort, the lift 7 has moved'upward and the flow of water has been completely diverted from 14, the lift 7 tends to move upward until the pressure in 2 has fallen be-- low normal under the influence of the ex- -hauster,'since the water is continuously discharging from 11. As the pressure falls in the retort the shifting of the holders moves the rod 37 to the right until the water is again discharging into 14 and the pan 11. fits the water accumulates in 11, the lift 7 tends to fall again, again building up the pressure in 2. This causes a corresponding of hose 28 is again brought over 14, and so on. There is thus a continual slight movement of the lift 7. This vibration up and down from the equilibrium position of the lift 7 is however very slight. The lateral movement of the end of hose 28 need only be, practically, that ofthe, diameter ofthe stream of water discharging from it to wholly divert the flow from one to the other of passages 14 and 15, since the thickrress of the partition 13 is practically negligible.

" The relative lengths of the arms 33 and 36 are such that the vertical movement of the holders to vause a given lateral movement of the rod 87 and consequently of the hose 2 8 is considerably less than the lateral nim ement of the latter. The change in ,1 pressure between 1 and 2 required to entirely shift the water discharge is thus prac tically inappreciable since the friction opposing the movement of the lifts 31' and 32 is very slight, as they work in free suspension in the tanks 31", 32", and the power required to oscillate the hose 28'is negligible.

"The only resistance which the holders must overcome tl'ierefore is, practically speaking,

the friction in the bearings 34 and 40. The

pressure control which may be secured byl my invention 15 therefore very delicate. The

greater the flow of water that it is arranged to maintain through 11 themore quickly responsive will the equalizing device be to the relative changes of pressure in 1 and 2.

As already explained, before opening the I retort for charging, the operator draws down the cord 41 operating the bell-crank The arms of the bell-crank 38 are so weighted that when the cord 11 is free the lower arm of 40 will assume the vertical position. When it is desired to clean either of the ,two' gas pipes 3 or 5 or the seal box 4, the lift 7 is raised from the bearings 22 (the retort being open) and lifted entirely out of the seal box 4. A cap may then'be placed over one ofthe pipes 3 or 5 and the other cleaned by inserting a suitable tool into the pipe.

Instead of the pressure balance shown, any equivalent device may be used instead. For instance, a diaphragm may be used, the opposite sides of which are in communication with the retort andcombustion chamber respectively, the movement of the diaphragm in this case being transmitted directly to the hose by having the rod .37 di rectly connected to the diaphragm.

Having described myinvention, what I claim is 1. A pressure equalizer comprising a weighted counterpoised throttling device, apressure balance, said pressure balance comprising two gas holders, a balanced beam fulcrumed at its middle, the lifts of the said holders being attached to the extremities of said balance beam, an arm attached to said balance beam atrlght angles thereto below the point of support of the same, a passage connecting one of said gas holders with a chamber through which a current of gas is passing, and a passage connecting the other of said gas holders with another chamber, a flexible hose supplying water to said throttling device, a horizontal rod having one end' attached to said flexible hose, and the other movement to the discharge end of said flexi:

ble hose.

2.-In a pressure equalizer for equalizing pressures between two gas conduits the combination of a weighted counterpoi'sed throttling device adapted to vary the free area of a gas passageby its vertical movement, a pressure balance, means for transmitting to one arm of said pressure balance the pressure prevailing in one of said conduits, means for transmitting to the other arm of said pressure balance the pressure prevailing in the other of said conduits, means for varying the weight of the said throttling device, means for adapting the movement of the said balaneeto actuate the said means for varying the Weight of the said throttling device.

3. In a pressure. equalizer forequalizing pressures between two gas conduits, thecombina'tion of a liquid-weighted counterpoised throttling device adapted to vary the free &

mitting to said pressure balance the pressures prevailing in the respective conduits, means for supplying liquid to said throttling device, means for adapting the movement of a the said pressure balance to regulate the quantity of water supplied to the said throttling device by the said water-supply-.

open-bottom box, a support for said bal-f anced arm, a water tank in the top of said; open-bottom'box, a passage for admitting water to said Water tank, and a passage for, discharging water from said tank, and means for interrupting the supply of wateri to said tank when the pressure in one of the passages to which the equalizer is connected exceeds the pressure in ,the other passage.

vice comprising an open-top sealtank adaptsaid lift, a passage establishing communi- 5. A pressure equalizer, comprising in combination a water-weighted counterpoisedthrottling device adapted to vary' the free area of a gas passage, said throttling de-= ed to contain a liquor" seal, an open-bottomlift vertically-movable in said opentop tank, a balanced arm attached to said lift,

a "support for said arm, an equilibrium Weight attached to said arm, a water recep-- tacle in the upper part. of said lift, a water- I inlet aperture in the top of said lift, a pas-' sage establishing communication between said Water-inlet aperture and said water re 40 ceptaele, and a passage establishing communication between said. water-inlet aper-- ture and said seal tank, means for feeding a continuous stream of water into said waterinlet aperture, means for shifting said stream of water from the Water passage communicating with said water receptacle to the water passage communicating with the said seal-tank when the pressure in the gas passage controlled by said throttling device exceeds the pressure in another gas passage.

6. In 'a pressure equalizer, the combina-.

tion of a seal tank, a lift adapted to move vertically in said seal tank, the said lift:

comprising an open-bottom box, a water rerior of said lift, a transverse partition in top of said lift, a passage establishing commun catmnbetween the said water-inlet aperture and said water receptacle, a passage said lift located between the extremities: of said gas pipes, a water-inlet aperturein the establishing communication between the said connection continuously feeding water to the and the other arm actuated. by the pressure water-inlet aperture and the said seal tank,

a passage for discharging water from the said water receptacle, a regulating valve on said water-discharge passage, a flexible hose- Sand water-inlet aperture, a pressure balance, having one arm actuated by the gas pressure in the gas inlet pipe to said lift,

of gas in another passage, and means for 7 transforming the oscillatory motion of the beam of said pressure balance to communicate a to and fro motion to the discharge end of said flexible-hose connection.

7. In a pressure equalizer, the combination of a seal tank, a lift adapted to move vertically in said seal tank, the said lift comprising an open-bottom box, a water receptacle in the upper part of said openbottom box, a gas-inlet pipe and a gas-discharge pipe communicating with the interior of said lift, a transverse partition in :said lift located between the extremities of said gas pipes, a Water-inlet aperture in the top of catlon between the said water-inlet aperture the said water-inlet aperture, a pressure bal ance having one arm actuated by the gas pressure in the gas-inlet pipe to said lift, and the other arm actuated by the pressure of gas in another gas passage, means for transforming the oscillatory motion of the beam of said pressure-balance to eommunicate a to and fro motion to the discharge end of said flexible hose connection whereby the discharge from said. hose may be shunted into the said water receptacle ofsaid lift when the pressure in the gas-inlet pipe to said lift falls below the pressure in the other gas passage and into the said seal-tank when the gas pressure in the said gas-inlet pipe rises above the gas pressure in the other gas passage, and a hand-operated means, independent of the said means for communicating a to and fro motion to said flexible hose, for diverting the discharge from said flexible hose into the said seal-tank.

8. In combination, a gas generating cham- 12o her and a furnace for heating said chamber, means for throttling the discharge of gas from said gas generating chamber, a pressure balance, a passage connecting one side of said balance with the said gas gen- 1 5 crating chamber, a passage connecting the other side of. said balance with the said furnace, and means for communicating the movement of said pressure balance to said 9. In combination, a gas generating chamber and a furnace for heating said chamber, a passage conducting the gas from said gas generating chamber, a seal-box interposed in said gas passage, said seal-box comprising a seal-tank and a lift, means for raising said lift when the pressure in the said gas generating chamber exceeds the pressure in the said furnace and for lowering the said lift when the pressure in the said gas generating chamber falls below the pressure in the fur nace of said chamber.

10. In combination, a gas generating chamber and av furnace for heating said chamber, a passage conducting the gas from said gas generating chamber to a throttling means, and a passage conducting the gas from the said throttling means to a hydraulic main, said throttling means comprising an open-top tank surrounding the upper termination of said gas passages, an open-bottom box telescoping with the said open-top box and enveloping the terminations of said gas passages, a vertical partition in said open-bottom box located be tween the terminations of said gas passages, said partition being adapted to enter the sealing-liquid in the open-top box when the said open-bottom box is in its lowest position thus shutting oil communication between the upper terminations of said gas passages, and varying the free area of the communicating passage with the position of said open-bottom box relative to said opentop box, and means for varying the position of the said open-bottom box relative to the said operrtop box according to the difference in pressure existing at any time between the said carbonizi'ng chamber and the furnace of said chamber.

11. In combination, a gas generating chamber and a furnace for heating the said chamber, a passage conducting the gas from said gas generating chamber to a throttling means, and a passage conducting the gas from the said throttling means to a hydraulic main, said throttling means comprising an open-top tank surrounding the upper terminations of the said gas passages, and an open-bottom box telescoping with said open-top box and enveloping the upper terminations of the said gaspassages, a vertical transverse partition in said open-bottom box located between the terminations of said gas passages, said partition being adapted to enter the sealing liquid in said open-top box when the said open-bottom box is in itslowest position thus shutting off communication between the upper terminations of said gas passages, and varying the free area of the communicating passage with the position of said open-bottom box relative to said open-top box, means for varying the position. of the said open-bottom box relative to the said open-top box according to the difference in pressure exist-- ing at any time between the said carbonizing chamber and the furnace of said chamber, the said means for varying the position of the said open-bottom box comprising two gas holders the lifts of which are attached to the extremities of a lever fulcrumed at its middle, a passage connecting one of said gas holders with the interior of said gas generating chamber, and a passage connecting the other of said gas holders with the interior of the furnace of said gas generating chamber, a variable counterpoise.

12. A device for equalizing the pressures in two separate gas conduits comprising in combination, a pressure balance, means for transmitting to one side or said balance the pressure prevailing in one of said conduits, n'ieans for trai'ismitting to th other side of said balance the pressure prevailing in the other of said gas conduits, a throttling device in one of said gas passages, said throttling device being adapted to increase the free area of the said passage when the pressure of the gas in said passage rises above that in the other of said passages and to decrease the free area of the said passage when the pressure of the gas in said passage falls below the pressure in the other of said passages.

13. Means for equalizing the pressure in a gas conduit with that prevailing in another separate gas conduit which comprises in combination, means for throttling the How of gas in that one of said conduits tending to have the -higher pressure, means for inducing a fiow of gas from said conduit, a pressure-actuated means for operating said throttling means, a passage connecting said operating means with the first of said conduits and a passage connecting said operat ing means with the other of said conduits.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 1st day of March A. D. 1911.

. HENRY L. DOHERTY.

Vi i tnesses FRANK J. SETURA, ROBERT F. GARBUTT. 

